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While world leaders gather in Glasgow for the Cop26 climate conference, efforts to tackle the climate crisis are being made closer to home.
Six hundred trees are set to be planted in Caerphilly’s Morgan Jones Park as part of a ‘tiny forest’ initiative.
The forest will be tightly planted with native species and is designed to grow up to ten times faster than a traditionally planted forest.
Tiny forests can take up to 30 times more carbon and reduce flooding risk, as well as reducing noise and air pollution and increasing biodiversity.
The community-led project will be run by environmental group Climate Action Caerphilly, alongside Caerphilly County Borough Council.
The project has been funded by the Welsh Government’s Landfill Disposals Tax Scheme, and administered by the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA).
Climate Action Caerphilly will be hosting an open day from 11am to 3pm on Saturday, November 6, where attendees will be able to plant their own trees.
Meanwhile, a nine-metre (30ft) ‘gratitude tree’, which has been made with the help of artist Kate Raggett, has been laid out in the park. It will be filled in by school pupils, homelessness charity Llamau and members of the public using creations made from natural materials found in the park.
An outdoor classroom is also set to be included in the project for local schools to use.
Climate Action Caerphilly volunteer Terry Gordon said: “The Tiny Forest project has already inspired a lot of local community interest and a number of local businesses have made generous donations to the project”.
The council’s deputy leader Jamie Pritchard, who is a councillor for the Morgan Jones ward, said: “This is an exciting project that will improve biodiversity and provide a number of benefits to protect our local environment. It’s a pleasure to be part of something which will have a positive impact in the community.”
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